Heavy fighting erupts between Armenian and Azeri forces
Officials from each country blame the other for the fighting that began overnight in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Heavy fighting has broken out between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the frontlines of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, governments of both the countries said on Saturday.
Officials from each country blamed the other for the fighting that began overnight. There were no immediate figures on casualties.
The Armenian Defence Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan claimed on a Facebook post that Armenian forces in the region shot down an Azeri military helicopter, a claim denied by the Azerbaijan government.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been under the control of Armenian military and separatists since a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in 1994. Years of negotiations have brought little progress in resolving the dispute.
"Active combat is currently under way," Hovhannisyan said. "The Armenian Army has launched a counter-attack. There are victims on both sides but the opposing side has sustained huge losses in manpower and equipment. A [Azerbaijani] helicopter has been shot down." .
The self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Ministry said on Twitter that Azerbaijan attacked Karabakh villages and military units with artillery and air forces, killing a child and wounding two.
"Karabakh army conducts effective protection, causing serious losses to Azerbaijan. We shot down a helicopter attacking to our positions," the Twitter account said.
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, quoted by Russian media, said in response that "the information about the downed helicopter was absolute lie and all vehicles were in place. It was another provocation on the part of Armenia".
The ministry also said the fighting began when Armenian forces fired mortars and large-calibre artillery shells across the front line.
Heavy fighting erupts between Armenian and Azeri forces - AJE News
Officials from each country blame the other for the fighting that began overnight in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Heavy fighting has broken out between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the frontlines of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, governments of both the countries said on Saturday.
Officials from each country blamed the other for the fighting that began overnight. There were no immediate figures on casualties.
The Armenian Defence Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan claimed on a Facebook post that Armenian forces in the region shot down an Azeri military helicopter, a claim denied by the Azerbaijan government.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been under the control of Armenian military and separatists since a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in 1994. Years of negotiations have brought little progress in resolving the dispute.
"Active combat is currently under way," Hovhannisyan said. "The Armenian Army has launched a counter-attack. There are victims on both sides but the opposing side has sustained huge losses in manpower and equipment. A [Azerbaijani] helicopter has been shot down." .
The self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Ministry said on Twitter that Azerbaijan attacked Karabakh villages and military units with artillery and air forces, killing a child and wounding two.
"Karabakh army conducts effective protection, causing serious losses to Azerbaijan. We shot down a helicopter attacking to our positions," the Twitter account said.
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, quoted by Russian media, said in response that "the information about the downed helicopter was absolute lie and all vehicles were in place. It was another provocation on the part of Armenia".
The ministry also said the fighting began when Armenian forces fired mortars and large-calibre artillery shells across the front line.
Heavy fighting erupts between Armenian and Azeri forces - AJE News